The numbers

[emmagrant01]

I just counted, and I have apparently written 600,000 words of HP fic in my almost-eight years in this fandom. That's 82 fics, and shockingly, only 35 of those are H/D -- though by word count, the vast majority of my HP fic is H/D. None of those other 47 fics is over 8000 words. And almost all of these were written before the end of canon, so a lot of it probably doesn't read well these days. :-P

Coming back after all this time feels a bit like starting over, and I have to admit there's something really nice about that. It's interesting to come back to these characters and this canon with a few years of distance and a fresh perspective. :-)

*snuggles new friends and old*

Comments

[alisanne.livejournal.com]

*snuggles back*
♥

[slytherincesss.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see you posting about H/D because it took me THIS LONG (8 years in HP fandom) to become interested in H/D as a pairing. I wrote a one-off for merry_smutmas in 2006, but it didn't feel complete. It's pretty long for a one-shot, 37,000+ words. I felt the need to write a follow-up story, so in October I started a story called Epitaphs, which takes place, oh, 20+ years post-Hogwarts, and is, believe it or not, epilogue compliant. geoviki has so kindly agreed to beta it for me, and that makes me feel even more encouraged. Maybe those of us either coming back into the pairing after a long break, or new to the pairing, could somehow support each other -- through helping to beta, or discussing our views on the characters post-canon, or whatever. Anyway, I have about 9 chapters done, each no more than 5000 words. I tend to write extremely long chapters, and I wanted to challenge myself to write a succinct, yet plotty and interesting story without tons of exposition.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mind_the_gap_/]

I'm really excited that you're back in fandom! I've moved away a bit from hp, but I suddenly feel encouraged to return to my fandom roots... :)

[celestlyn.livejournal.com]

((Hugs)) So glad you are still around. Hoping you are finding lots of awesome new fic to enjoy and of course, write. You can't go away again. You have to go for a million words. :)

I still find plenty of the older fics to read. Since many have written H/D AU, anyway, it works for me. I think I could read for years and not have to repeat. Takes a bit of digging sometimes, but I'm so happy for the hd_storyroom, a wonderful rec'ing comm.

Certainly, DH gave us some new direction to go in our writing. I do hate that Snape had to die. I'm grateful for those who feel the same and find ways to include him in their fics, anyway.

And of course, there's the whole next-gen genre that grew from that stupid epilogue. I don't read a lot of next-gen, but I've found some to enjoy. Normally, they just don't have the emotional impact for me that my old, pre-epilogue canon friends have. I'm always happy when I connect with one, though.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Emma, I am so glad to see you back in fandom. You were missed <3<3<3

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I loved Under the Cold Wan Moon. I certainly want moar from you <3

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I have never sat down and counted because I have the "I aten't done!" vibe that just doesn't want me to play with totals yet. :D

*snuggles back*

[accioslash.livejournal.com]

*snuggles back*

I flirt with other fandoms now and again, but HP is always home. ♥

[slytherincesss.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! In a lot of ways that was the hardest fic to write (when you don't actively ship a ship, which I didn't at the time, it's hard to guess the dynamics involved). Your comment encourages me to keep working on Epitaphs. :D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

♥

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

How interesting that you're going back to finish something you started years ago! Because I'm actually thinking of doing the same thing, heh. As soon as I finish writing for all the fests I've committed too, anyway. ;-)

You know, succinct and plotty is sort of the style I'm going for too. Maybe we could help each other out?

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Dooooo it!! ;-)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I really should go for a million words. If you count all of my fanfic, it's about 830,000 words, so getting to a million total isn't too far off, hee.

One of the things I'm finding is that post-canon, it's taking me a lot more story to get Harry and Draco together. After OOTP it wasn't so much of a stretch still, but after DH, hoo boy. They have a lot of shit to get past first. So all of my H/D fics these days are loooong.

I do see the appeal of next-gen fic, AS/S in particular. It's like an AU in which Harry and Draco aren't divided by a war for the first seven years they know each other, and Albus doesn't grow up abused and in total ignorance of his heritage. But I still love Harry/Draco so much that it's what I want first and foremost. :-)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! ♥

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

E-Fiction keeps a lovely running total at the top of the page, so it's hard to miss. ;-)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

It is, isn't it? ♥

[slytherincesss.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really liked the idea I had for the sequel, chaptered fic -- I didn't want to not finish it. I figured before I went on to someone new, I want to finish my WIPs.

As for helping each other out, that would be great. I'm not looking to write an award-winning H/D fic; I just want to write something fun, that hopefully readers will enjoy and think is fun to read. I'm taking a very laid back approach.

[mania-regale.livejournal.com]

Yay to coming back to HP! I'm constantly dismayed by how many of my old flist have jumped ship to other locations. I can't wait to get to read something new of yours - and maybe I'll have to go back and re-read some of the old!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Do you still have the same email? Let's chat about it. :-D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Well, if you're interested, I've written 5 new HP fics in the last 6 months, plus one drabble: *clicky-clicky* (http://emmagrant01.livejournal.com/tag/my_hp_fic)

;-)

[slytherincesss.livejournal.com]

I sent you my email separately in a comment that I deleted. It should be in your inbox.

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

Let me second what Penny said!

[helens78]

Okay, the part of this that made me go "!!!!!" was the almost eight years part. Has it really been that long?? *does not compute, does not compute!*

I have been way more fickle in fandoms than you have, but I just spent a good solid year tucked into my fandom and am hopeful that, seven years down the line, I've got as much writing to show for it as this. ^_^ (It helps that I finally broke what felt like a four-year writing slump!)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

*Snuggles you back*
*Boggles at cuteness of icon*

[golden-snitch12.livejournal.com]

None of those other 47 fics is over 8000 words. And almost all of these were written before the end of canon, so a lot of it probably doesn't read well these days.

I would like to go on record and say to you (and anyone else that started or posted a fic before canon was completed) that I always read each individual story on its on merit. It doesn't matter to me that it doesn't follow canon. I'm much more interested in the entertainment value of the story (and the hot sex ... snicker) than whether Snape, Dumbledore, Sirius, etc. are dead or alive. As long as the fic is well written, I'm delighted to read and comment. The authors in our HD fandom are some of the absolute best, and I NEVER get tired of reading, saving, and commenting on the wonderful stories they put so much of themselves into. I feel that commenting is the least I can do after they have gone through the creative process for our literary enjoyment. Deep thoughts for a Sunday morning after only one cup of coffee.

[starlitshore.livejournal.com]

For me, some fics are practically canon. LMH and StG in particular will never NOT read well! I waited patiently every Wednesday morning to read them with my breakfast! *snugs*

I'm excited to see what you'll come up with now. I mean, canon's over! We don't have to worry about being Jossed by JK! (EWE all the way, baby!) We have years and years of Harry and Draco's lives to write about. :D Awesome.

permission:)

[j2sn.livejournal.com]

Hi Emma!
Can I translate 'Pillow talk' to Hebrew?
It would be such an honor! :)

[valkyrie17.livejournal.com]

I have to agree. I don't care that the old ones don't fit with the more recent canon...they're still great on their own merits.

[zeitgeistic.livejournal.com]

600,000 is quite a lot of words! I tallied up one of mine at 142k and the HP one I'm writing now is already passed that and counting. It's amazing how it adds up to the length of actual novels.